A Cowboy's Heart (Hitting Rocks Cowboys)

by Rebecca Winters

  “I asked him the same thing. He said no.”

  The way Sadie spoke sent a chill through Liz.

  “I still have no advice for you about Connor.”

  “He and Reva will be getting together after finals, but he’s not the reason why I’m calling.” Connor had been having fun with Liz, saying and doing all the right things to make her feel good and desirable. She’d felt his passion, but their time together was almost up. “This is about Kyle.” She explained what was wrong. “If you were in my shoes, what would you do?” The silence went on for a long time. “Sadie?”

  Her friend finally let out a sigh. “Since you didn’t want Kyle to drive with you to Las Vegas, I think you should tell him the truth. That this isn’t the time for you to get together with him. Surely if you explain about family coming and your responsibility to Connor and the horses, he’ll understand, even if he’s disappointed.

  “Tell him you’d love to go out with him after you’re home. By then, all the stress of the rodeo will be over and you can find out if the two of you have a relationship worth pursuing. Maybe, when you see him after being with Connor, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Maybe not. In any event, it’ll be easier to say goodbye to Kyle knowing you didn’t let him spend all that time and money to come be with you.”

  “Agreed.” It was the advice she needed, because she’d been thinking with her hormones. “You’re right. Thanks for being the best friend I ever had.”

  “Ditto.”

  “Give Ralph my love.”

  “You know I will. We’ll all be watching again tonight. Go knock ’em dead!”

  After they hung up Liz made her daily call to her mom, who sounded happy. Whatever worry her parents might have because of her feelings for Connor, they could see her scores had never been better. Connor had been good for her. It was the rest of her life she had to worry about, but she refused to think of anything but finals right now.

  Her next call wasn’t going to be so easy, but she had to do it. Kyle was a great guy who’d been trying to make plans with her. Maybe he would never want to see her again, but she knew herself too well. Better to disappoint him now than to pretend to be happy to see him after he flew in to Las Vegas. She couldn’t do that to him, not when she felt the way she did about Connor.

  She answered his text with another one, asking if she could phone him in an hour about something very important. He said he’d be available in a half hour.

  Once she put the phone away, she headed over to the barn and put Sunflower through a special routine to keep strengthening her hocks. Those precision turns required the greatest power and discipline from her horse. During the workout, Kyle called her back.

  He was mostly silent after her explanation, but incredibly decent about it. She promised him she’d drive to Bozeman to see him as soon as she got back from Las Vegas. That was, if he wanted her to come. To her surprise, he assured her he would look forward to seeing her.

  Why couldn’t she be in love with him?

  After lunch, Connor watched while she got out her doctor bag and gave both horses a thorough medical exam. Liz had been doing this every other day. So far, her check for soft-tissue injuries, as well as hoof and teeth problems, had turned up nothing. Their horses’ hearts and lungs, their breathing and digestive noises sounded normal.

  She nodded to Connor. “They’re in excellent shape. We’ve been lucky so far.”

  “Thanks to you. I’ve never traveled with a vet before. Like I said earlier, if it hadn’t been for Daniel, we could have been doing this from the time you graduated from med school.”

  Yup. That would have been about the time he got his divorce. But with his career in rodeo over in the next four days, it looked as though Connor would be getting a second chance to make his former marriage work.

  She looked into his eyes. “I wonder how many times Jarod and Sadie have said those same words.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “They went through hell. We all did, but that time is behind us,” he ground out. “What do you say we drive our children over to the center and put night number seven behind us?”

  “I can’t believe we’re getting near the end.”

  “I know what you mean. Our horses are lucky. They don’t think the way we do and have no idea when this whole business is going to end. Until it’s over, they just keep going.”

  “That’s what we’ve got to do. Just keep going for four more nights.” Liz leaned over to pick up her medical bag. Her breath caught when she felt his hands slide up her arms to her shoulders. He squeezed them gently. His warm breath tickled her neck. “You’re going to win. I feel it in my bones.”

  Jarod had predicted a win for her, but not for his brother. That alarmed her in the most profound way. She wished Sadie hadn’t said anything, and turned to Connor so he’d let go of her. Liz couldn’t handle his touch right now.

  “I’ve already won by making it to the finals and traveling here with you. So far, the two buckles are simply a bonus.”

  His expression sobered. “I don’t think you know how good you really are.” He always managed to say the right thing at the right time, denoting a selfless, generous nature she admired so much there were no words.

  “I was just going to say the same thing to you.” With her medical bag in one hand, she caught hold of Sunflower’s reins with the other and started walking toward the parked trailer.

  “Hey—what’s the hurry?”

  “I want to walk Sunflower around and hang out by the alley without feeling the stress so she doesn’t build up too much tension about it. Then I have to leave for the Las Vegas Convention Center. Wrangler has set up my autograph time for six-thirty. I wasn’t allowed to pick it. Unfortunately, it means I probably won’t get back in time to watch your event.”

  He grinned. “If you’ve seen it once, you’re not missing anything.”

  “Don’t be absurd, Connor. No one knows how hard you work to get each ride perfect. Thank goodness I only have to do this once.”

  “You have no vanity.”

  Fire shot from her eyes. “I’ve got plenty, but not during your event! Promise you’ll phone me after you’ve finished and let me know how you did.”

  * * *

  THREE HOURS LATER, Liz’s words still resounded in Connor’s heart as he backed Firebrand into the corner of the box for his turn. On his right he caught sight of Wade mounted on his horse on the other side of the chute. He sent Connor a speaking glance, letting him know this steer was a wily one. It looked to be six hundred pounds or better. Connor had seen them all, from four hundred and fifty to six hundred and fifty pounds.

  With an answering glance he acknowledged Wade’s message, then patted Firebrand’s neck. “This is it, buddy.”

  Connor gave the official nod and the steer shot out, releasing the rope barrier. Firebrand took off. Connor rode low and leaned to the right, sliding down his horse to hook his right arm around the steer’s right horn. With his left hand he grasped the left horn to slow it down and braced himself with his feet. His body knew these maneuvers like the back of his hand.

  But the steer unexpectedly bucked upward as Connor threw him to the ground, resulting in a sudden, powerful load on his chest muscle. It sent excruciating pain shooting through his chest and shoulder before running down his right arm.

  In a flash he knew he’d sustained a serious injury.

  Just like that, he was finished.

  The shock of the physical pain was bad enough. But the knowledge that the end of his career had been cut short four days early by an accident tore through his gut as if he’d been ripped open by one of those horns.

  While the arena workers took care of the steer, the emergency staff came running to carry him out of the arena on a stretcher. Only the announcer’s voice commiserating over the injury sounded in the eeri
e quiet of the crowd who were on their feet waiting to know the outcome. Everything was surreal. He saw Wade’s ashen face loom over him.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of Firebrand,” he assured Connor.

  “I know you will. Wade—” It was hard to breathe. “Wrangler set up a schedule for Fan Fest. Liz took the truck and is at the convention center right now signing autographs. Find her when she gets back here. She’ll have heard about the accident, so help her. She has to place again tonight. Do you hear me?” Connor muttered through clenched teeth.

  “I’ll do whatever I can,” Wade promised before Connor was carted away in an ambulance. Once he’d been lifted inside, the last thing he remembered was someone sticking him with a needle.

  * * *

  WITH HER AUTOGRAPH session finished, Liz pulled up in the parking area at the back of the Mack Center. Before she got out, she heard her cell ring. That was the call she’d been waiting for. Excited, she pulled the phone out of her purse. But her spirits plunged when she saw Derrick’s name on the caller ID. What on earth was he doing phoning her? She’d made it clear she didn’t want to see him again.

  A strange feeling crept over her before she clicked on. “Derrick?”

  “Liz? I just saw what happened to Connor and I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

  A cold, clammy sensation broke out on her skin. “What did happen?”

  “Oh, hell—you don’t know?”

  “Know what?” Her voice shook.

  “He got injured during his event and was taken to the hospital.”

  Her eyes shut tightly. “How badly was he hurt?”

  “I don’t know. I thought you—”

  “I’ve got to go.”

  Blind with pain, she rummaged for her keys to drive to the nearest hospital, but suddenly her door was flung open. It was Wade. He reached in and put his arms around her.

  She lifted tear-filled eyes to him. “Derrick just told me the news. Is Connor going to live, Wade?”

  “Sure he is. He injured his chest and shoulder, but he’ll be fine.”

  “Is that the truth?”

  “I wouldn’t lie to you about this.”

  “Oh, thank God,” she whispered before slumping against him. “I’ve got to go to him as soon as I finish my round.”

  “While he was on the stretcher, he begged me to find you and make sure you won your event tonight. I promised him I’d follow through. Just sit there for a few minutes till the shock wears off.”

  “So he was coherent the whole time?”

  “Yes.”

  “What went wrong?”

  “The steer was as ornery as they come. As Connor was throwing him, it bucked upward, probably causing a torn muscle.”

  Liz moaned. “He must be in so much pain.”

  “Even so, he was worried about you. I’ll go to the hospital with you after your event. I can promise that the only news he’ll want to hear is that you placed in tonight’s event or won it. That’ll help him get better in a big hurry.”

  She couldn’t bear it. That sixth gold buckle had been denied Connor. Her heart broke for him. “His family has to be devastated after watching what happened on television.” Ralph would need a lot of support. He loved Connor so much.

  “Connor has a great family who are there for him all the way and will help him get through this. He’s survived many injuries on the circuit.”

  “But this finals was his last.” Her voice broke.

  “I know,” he said quietly.

  “It’s so cruel. He’s the best and would have won the whole thing.”

  “I’m convinced of it.”

  She sniffed. “But five world championships isn’t bad, right?”

  He smiled. “Right. Do you think you’ve recovered enough to go inside and get ready? I’ll stay right with you.”

  “I’m thankful you’re here, Wade. What I want to know is, are you all right? This has to have been heartbreaking for you, too. Connor couldn’t have made it this far all these years without your help. He has sung your praises over and over again.”

  “That’s nice to hear. I’ll be fine. You know this business better than anyone. There’s always a risk.”

  She nodded and wiped her eyes. “I’m feeling better and should get ready.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Liz had found her legs and headed inside for Sunflower’s stall. She knew how much Connor wanted her to win. Tonight she’d do her very best to keep the rodeo alive for him until it was over.

  While Wade chatted quietly with some of the other contestants around her, she comforted herself with the thought that Reva would have heard about his accident by now. No doubt she’d be on a plane to Las Vegas before morning. It would thrill him to see her walk into his hospital room.

  With his career over, he could concentrate on a new life with Reva that would bring him joy and, later on, a family like the one Jarod and Sadie had started.

  “Okay, little lady.” She spoke to Sunflower before mounting her. “Our turn is coming up. We’ve got to do this one for Connor.”

  Wade gave her a private nod before she walked her horse toward the spot where the barrel racers had started to congregate. She noticed several competitors were having trouble with their horses not wanting to enter the arena.

  The swell of cheers from the crowd signaled that the first racer had finished her run. Liz watched the second racer gallop down the alley for her run. The audience roared with excitement. Sunflower sensed their turn was coming and took a few steps in anticipation, but they’d be racing next to last.

  When Liz finally heard her name announced, she made her clicking sound and they bolted out of the alley into the arena. Her horse knew the cloverleaf pattern they’d done hundreds of times and did it to perfection. They skimmed the third barrel but incurred no penalty. Then they went flat out for home. She heard a time of 13.47 announced. Her best one, giving her a third gold buckle.

  Overjoyed, she cried, “Good girl, Sunflower!”

  Wade was waiting at her stall with a beaming face. “You did it again!”

  “Thanks.”

  She dismounted quickly. No matter how big a hurry she was in to see Connor, she had to drive to the South Point for the awards and then return to take care of her wonderful horse. She gave her the attention she needed plus a special treat, then she moved over to Polly’s stall and talked to her for a minute, also giving her a treat.

  Wade joined her. “Follow me to the hospital in Connor’s truck. Let’s exchange phone numbers in order to stay in close touch.”

  “I was just going to suggest it.”

  With that done, the trip was a complete blur to Liz. Her heart rate was too high to be healthy, but it wouldn’t return to normal until she’d seen Connor for herself and knew he really would be all right in time.

  He had a private room on the third floor. The nurse at the station told them he was only allowed one visitor at a time. Apparently it had been like Grand Central Station, and their famous patient needed rest. He’d be undergoing surgery at 6:00 a.m.

  “You go in first, Liz.”

  She bit her lip before letting herself inside.

  Naturally he’d been given painkillers, and he lay there, still and pale beneath his tan. But when she approached the side of the bed, his eyes opened. Their beautiful brown color hadn’t changed.

  “You got a 13.47,” he murmured.

  “Yeah. How about that?” She pulled a chair up close to him.

  “Where’s my treat?”

  “I’m a doctor, remember? You can’t have food before surgery. Love that outfit you’re wearing, by the way. Picked it up at the Western store, did you?”

  His lips twitched. “I talked to everyone at home. By now they know you’re a shoo-in for th
e world championship.”

  She fought the tears prickling her eyelids. “So tell me the bad news.”

  “The doctor is going to repair my pecta something.”

  “Ah. You’ve suffered from a violent eccentric contraction of the pectoralis major muscle that caused a rupture at the humeral insertion of your right arm. That’s not surprising, since you used that arm to catch the horn of that blasted steer. According to Wade, it was an ornery critter.”

  His eyes smiled. “How did you get so smart?”

  “It runs in the family.”

  “You’re not kidding. Liz—” She could see his throat working.

  “Don’t say it. I don’t want to hear it. Five world championships are more than any human has the right to expect in this life. You’re already a legend. The steer caused all the trouble, not you, Connor Bannock. Tonight you went out in a blaze of glory no one will ever forget, so enjoy the downtime.

  “This hospital will have to be cordoned off to protect you from thousands of fans dying to know how you are. Since you’re much too modest, I’ll set up a blog to let everyone know that their hero is alive and kicking. I’ll even put up some pictures of before and after. You owe it to them.”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  “After all you’ve done for me, I don’t know how you can even ask me that question. It’ll be a good way to advertise your feral stud farm if you decide that’s something you want to do. Now I’m going to leave so Wade—”

  “Don’t go—I don’t want to see anyone else right now.”

  Heart attack.

  “I didn’t bring any cards for poker with me. What else do you have in mind?”

  “Let’s talk about you coming to work for me as my vet.”

  “So you have been considering the stud-farm idea.”

  “I’m thinking it might just work.”

  “Of course it will, if that’s what you want to do. You know you can do anything if you’re on fire for it. But it’s time to give your mind and body a rest. I’ll be back tomorrow morning after your surgery.”

  “I want you here when I wake up.”